Sealing connector terminal



Patented Oct. 23 1945 SEALING CONNECTOR TERMINAL John Frank Weakley, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Carter Carburetor Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., n a corporation of Delaware Application July 8, 1943, Serial No. 493,939

3 Claims.

l This invention relates to terminal connectors for electric wiring and consists particularly in a novel connector device for application to the wall of a fluid tank and which tightly seals the opening through which the wire attaching shaft or bolt passes.

Sealing devices of this type have usually embodied a fibrous packing or wedging elements which are drawn together axially by various means. The present invention providesa device which is substantially simpler and equally or more effective than these devices of the prior art.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a sectional view illustrating the novel connector device applied to a fuel tank.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the terminal connector device, and

Fig. 3 is a section of the sleeve member only.

Fig. 1 illustrates a tank I0, which may be the fuel tank of an automobile or truck, having an electric fuel pump Il mounted therein. The pump is connected to the carburetor of the engine by suitable piping (not shown). Wiring l2 extends upwardly from the pump and is attached to the lower extremity of the novel connector device, generally indicated at I3.

This device, better illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a thin walled sleeve I5 having an external, tapered pipe thread i6 on its lower portion and a hexagonal, wrench receiving portion Il thereabove. Extending axially through the sleeve is a metal shaft ivhaving longitudinal serrations or iiutings as at I9, a central, circumferential groove 20, and radial collars 2| near its ends. 'I'he shaft is threaded outwardly of collars 2l, as at 22, for receiving the nuts 23 (Fig. 1) which attach wiring to the terminal, suitable washers being provided. The internal surface of sleeve I5 is also longitudinally serrated, as at 24. Closely fitting the space between sleeve I5 and shaft I8 and extending to collars 2| is a bushing 25 formed of a resiliently compressible material, preferably a plastic substance such as Lucite. The plastic bushing is conveniently moldedinto position so as to clo-e1y t the serrations in the sleeve and shaft and extend into groove 20.

A plate 2l is attached to the top of tank l0 by bolts 28 so ai. to cover an opening 28 therein, a sealing gasket 30 being interposed between the plate and tank wall. This plate is provided with an internal tapered thread which is complementary to thread I6 on the connector device. Because of the tapering of these threads, sleeve l5 is slightly compressed upon being threaded into the plate and this causes squeezing of the plastic bushing so as to form a rigid, fluid sealing assembly. Various substances may be used for the bushing, which have suilicient strength and elasticity and are soft enough to become embedded in the serrations I9 and 24. The structure and use of the connector may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

l1. A sealing connector terminal comprising a thin-walled sleeve member of form sustaining material having an external, tapered thread and its inner surface cylindrical, a grooved, wire attaching shaft extending therento, and a bushing of resilient, plastic material molded into the space between said members so as to be squeezed into tight, sealing engagement therewith upon application of said sleeve member t0 a complementary, internally threaded part.

2. A sealing connector terminal comprising a thin Walled, metal sleeve having an external, tapered thread, a wrench engaging part, and internal irregularities. a wire attaching shaft extending axially thereinto and having external irregularities, and a bushing of resilient, plastic material molded into the space between said members whereby -said members and said bushing will ybe squeezed radially into a rigid, sealing unit upon application of said sleeve to a complementary, internally threaded part.

3. The combination with a receptacle wall having a threaded orifice, of a sealing terminal connector device comprising a thin walled sleeve of form sustaining material threaded into said oriilce, a metal wire attaching shaft extending therethrough, and a bushing of resilient material closely fitting the space between said sleeve and shaft, the sleeve and orifice threads being tapered Whereby said sleeve is slightly contracted by threading of said sleeve into said-orice and said bushing thereby squeezed into sealing engagement with said sleeve and shaft.

J. FRANK WEA-KLEY. 

